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O’Neil, N. J., Scott, S., Relph, R., and Ponnusamy, E., “Approaches to incorporating green chemistry and safety into laboratory culture,” J. Chem. Educ., 2021, 98, 84-91.

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Article

Incorporating Green Chemistry into Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory: Synthesis of Banana Oil

1Department of Biology and Chemistry, Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, United States


World Journal of Chemical Education. 2024, Vol. 12 No. 2, 45-48
DOI: 10.12691/wjce-12-2-1
Copyright © 2024 Science and Education Publishing

Cite this paper:
Weihua Wang, Prabin Rai. Incorporating Green Chemistry into Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory: Synthesis of Banana Oil. World Journal of Chemical Education. 2024; 12(2):45-48. doi: 10.12691/wjce-12-2-1.

Correspondence to: Weihua  Wang, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, United States. Email: Weihua_Wang@subr.edu

Abstract

The traditional laboratory of synthesis of banana oil via Fisher esterification was modified to provide a practical integration of green chemistry concepts and principles into undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory at Southern University and A&M College-Baton Rouge campus (SUBR). Besides the traditional method described in our laboratory manual, two more modified methods for the synthesis of banana oil were added. Six out of the 12 principles of green chemistry were introduced. This laboratory offered students an opportunity to do a comparative study of the greenness and efficiency of different synthetic methods for the synthesis of banana oil and practice applying green chemistry principles into organic synthesis. The modified method II was found to be the greenest and most efficient synthetic method with least waste produced, highest atom economy and yield, environmentally benign chemicals, reduced hazardous risk, improved energy efficiency and enhanced accident prevention. Calculations of E-factor and percent atom economy were introduced. The comparison of experimental percent atom economy and percent yield was also included.

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